Praedicator

Verba

Sunday, November 20, 2016 - 34th or Last Sunday in Ordinary Time - C: The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King

[2 Sam 5:1-3; Col 1:12-20; Luke 23:35-43]

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2016 OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE
[2 Samuel 5:1-3; Colossians 1:12-20; Luke 23:35-43]
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." [Luke]
The title of this feast invokes for me whatever the latest Hubble Telescope pictures show us of the "universe." This seems to me to put Jesus out of reach! Even the notion of a "King" can cause unease in our democratic culture. We Americans prefer to admire royalty from a distance or from a magazine page. I think the quotation from the account of Jesus' passion in the Gospel of Luke brings us down to earth and gives us hope.
Over Jesus' head was an inscription authored by Pontius Pilate which we often know by its acronym: INRI - Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. We know that Pilate was skeptical of the accusations against Jesus. One of the two thieves crucified with him saw the truth more clearly - the kingdom of God was something greater than Rome. His profession of faith is one that I find very moving: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." I hope we can all say that prayer and hear the Lord's promise in return, even if not on the very day we say it! Our "King" shows himself helpless and suffering before he shows himself risen and glorified. We hope to join him. AMEN